Many of the ballot measures are in response to Senate Bill 213[2] by Sen. Mike Johnston[3], D-Denver, which overhauls the school finance structure. The only way that some changes could be instituted, though, is if voters in November approve a tax increase[4] that could amount to $1 billion annually.

Ballot proposals are filed with the nonpartisan Legislative Council, the first in many steps of getting an issue on the ballot. The November election is limited to state issues involving taxes, revenues and debt, for the most part, because it is an off year.